Young people who came to the Annual Police, Youth & Community Relations Seminar were energized and eager to listen to stories about gangsters. Few of the stories have happy endings. The goal of the YWAP Director was to show the young folks how anybody can be tempted to take a turn down the wrong road.
One of the biggest causes of crime and gang violence is absentee fathers. When a young person is missing a father or father figure in their life, something is missing that causes a hole in their heart. Trying to fill the hole and ease the pain, they turn to drugs, alcohol, sex or the brotherhood of a gang. Nothing they do will fill that hole or ease that ache.
After a few stories about perils and causes of gang involvement, the YWAP Director shifted to stories about people who overcame hard times and faced struggles with nasty people. They overcame their struggles without revenge on the people who caused their heartaches.
Fatherhood, forgiveness and embracing struggles as an overcomer are three keys to helping young people avoid at risk behaviors like joining gangs. We're grateful to the folks at the Niagara County Youth Bureau, the Niagara County Sheriffs Department and Niagara County Community College for inviting to share at a life changing event.

For more information about how you can become a YWAP supporter and volunteer, please leave a message or call us at 716-830-8240. Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we. #ywapbuffalo #ywap4God #ywap716 #JLYASDW